CBL/Cbl-b mediates Fas degradation to reduce neuronal damage in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Fas has been shown to positively regulate the differentiation of T helper 17 (Th17) cells in mouse models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Fas protein expression is regulated by ubiquitination but has not been further studied. In this study, we investigated the role of the Fas ubiquitin ligase in Th17 cell differentiation and highlighted its potential as a therapeutic target for EAE.

Assessment of quality of life and relevant factors in elderly diabetic patients in the Shanghai community.

Purpose: The study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of the elderly diabetes mellitus (DM) in Shanghai community and to screen the possible risk factors.

Methods: A total of 951 patients with elderly DM and 1007 elderly subjects with normal glucose tolerance from the same community as control group were enrolled in the study. A door-to-door retrospectively epidemiological survey was used to collect data of QOL, demographic, and diabetic information.

In vivo and in vitro chondrotoxicity of ciprofloxacin in juvenile rats.

Aim: To study the relationship between chondrotoxicity and toxicokinetics of ciprofloxacin (CPFX).

Methods: Rats, 4-week old, were treated with CPFX 0, 400, 800, and 1200 mg/kg ig once daily on seven consecutive days. The knee joint cartilage was examined histopathologically.

[Meta-analysis on the effect and adverse reaction on patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs].

Objective: To observe the rate of efficacy and adverse drug reaction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the population with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, based on available clinical data.

Methods: Using Meta analysis to evaluate the data of effect and safety profile of NSAIDs from 19 articles on randomized clinical trials published from 1990 to 2001 in Chinese journals. The total number of patients enrolled for evaluation on rates of effectiveness and adverse drug reaction were 1 732 and 2 925, respectively.

Neurotoxicity and toxicokinetics of norfloxacin in conscious rats.

Aim: To study the neurotoxicity and toxicokinetics of norfloxacin (NFLX) in freely moving rats.

Methods: Rats were assigned randomly to four treatment groups that received a single iv dose of 50, 100, 200 mg/kg of NFLX and 0.9 % saline, respectively.

Inhibition by fluoroquinolones of K(+) currents in rat dissociated hippocampal neurons.

The effects of four fluoroquinolones (sparfloxacin, fleroxacin, ofloxacin and levofloxacin) on K(+) currents were investigated in pyramidal neurons acutely isolated from rat hippocampus, to evaluate their relative potencies for inhibiting these channels. Using patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques, we found that all four compounds inhibited the delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(K)), but with different potencies. Sparfloxacin was the most potent compound, displaying an IC(50) value of 6.